Foreign Policy

As amazing as this will sound, the most fundamental problem of foreign-policy analysis — even among libertarians — is the absence of the state. If you look closely at most discussions, you will notice that government plays an insignificant role in th

The United States cleared the way for the release of millions of dollars of North Korean money frozen in a Macau bank, a pivotal demand of the Stalinist state under a deal aimed at dismantling its nuclear arms program.

THE US has indicated for the first time that it might be willing to back plans by elite echelons of the military in Islamabad to oust Pervez Musharraf from power, as the Pakistani President was beset by major new difficulties over his attempts to sac

For years, the notion that Mr. Musharraf is all that stands between Washington and a group of nuclear-armed mullahs has dictated just how far the White House feels it can push him to root out Al Qaeda and Taliban operatives who enjoy a relatively saf

Syria called for an unrestricted dialogue with Washington on Monday, as a senior US official made the highest-level visit to Damascus in two years for talks limited to the Iraqi refugee crisis. Ellen Sauerbrey, assistant secretary of state

On the 9th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution President George Washington gave to his cabinet his farewell address. He also had it printed in the Philadelphia Daily American Advertiser primarily to let everyone know that he

Questions about whether the Bush administration may have made unverified or exaggerated claims to force a bank in tiny Macau to freeze North Korean financial assets.
Ernst & Young, a global accounting firm, found no evidence that the family-owned

China rejected criticism by Dick Cheney about its military ambitions, saying that it is a force for stability in the world. Cheney, while in Asia last week, said some of Beijing's actions were at odds with its words about its military expansion b

In a startlingly blunt speech at a Munich security conference, Russia's president accused Washington of seeking world domination, undermining the UN and other international institutions, monopolizing world energy resources, destabilizing the Mide

Iran is determined to develop nuclear weapons and could produce one by early to mid next decade, the head of US intelligence said, calling it a "very dangerous situation." Rising oil income and perceived successes of its surrogates Hamas an

Iraqi trades unions have called for the country's oil reserves - the second-largest in the world - to be kept in public hands. But a leaked draft of the oil law shows that the Government would sign away the right to exploit its untapped fields in

A top US administration official insisted Washington had no intention of changing its policy toward communist Cuba, whose centerpiece is a 45-year-old, unilateral trade embargo.
"We believe passionately that our policy is correct," said

In a statement reflecting the growing distrust between Moscow and the West, a top Russian general warned that Poland and the Czech Republic risk being targeted by Russian missiles if they agree to host U.S. missile defense bases.

Tehran - Iran on Sunday reiterated it would not accept the United Nations Security Council demand that it suspend uranium enrichment, but said there could be perspectives for renewed talks. 'Enrichment suspension neither has a legal nor logical j

The six-nation agreement designed to end North Korea's nuclear weapons program can serve as a model and incentive for a similar deal with Iran, U.S. Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Nicholas Burns said.

Mr. Putin made it clear he expects the defence industry, which is undergoing revival and consolidation, to act as a locomotive for Russia's growing economy. "I hope the military-industrial complex will extend to the civil sector as well**QQ*

The US clashed with China and Russia during a disarmament debate over how to prevent an arms race in outer space, and Russia and China condemned the "one state" that refuses to consider a treaty banning space weapons - the US.

The White House found itself fending off a neocon revolt over the North Korea nuclear deal, even scrambling to mollify one of its own top officials who expressed sharp disagreement with a provision that could spring Pyongyang from the list of countri

Envoys from six nations reached a tentative agreement early Tuesday on the first steps toward North Korea's nuclear disarmament, a potential breakthrough in talks that have faltered repeatedly since 2003. [round table?]

Americans have never been very good at looking at their government in the mirror. For example, one might be unsettled by the fact that Saddam Hussein had a better reason for invading Kuwait than the United States did for invading Iraq.

Negotiations on a step-by-step deal that the Bush administration hopes will lead North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons program appeared near collapse over North Korea’s demands for huge shipments of fuel oil and electricity before agreeing to a

Kyuma irked the US administration by saying the US was wrong to start the war in Iraq, and for not having a post-war gameplan. He also criticized Washington's handling of the relocation of a U.S. base in Japan.

I differ with your views in two regards. You write as though the past 60 years of US policy in the Middle East amount to little more than a series of stupid and unsuccessful episodes. Of course, if one supposes that these policies were intended to re